Understanding the Role of Soils and Management on Crops in the Face of Climate Uncertainty in Zimbabwe: A Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract

Although climate change is likely to affect a wide variety of sectors in Zimbabwe, the risk to agriculture stands out most since agriculture is the mainstay of the country’s economy. In addition, there is little information available on how to help smallholder farming systems and livelihoods respond to these risks. To determine the effects on crop production of expected changes in precipitation patterns and projected increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature, we used two process-based crop models—the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model and the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model. The models were calibrated and validated to assess the effects of single and combined climatic factors on grain and stover yield performance of maize and groundnut, across three soil types. The two models generally agree on the effects that different climatic factors have on both maize and groundnuts, however, the magnitude of the effects varied. For example, reductions on maize grain yields are more pronounced in the APSIM model while the DSSAT model shows more pronounced reduction of maize stover yields. Both models show yield benefits under elevated CO2 concentration for groundnuts negating the effects of increased temperatures when evaluating the combined effects of the climatic factors. However, yield increases for both groundnut grain and stover are more pronounced in the DSSAT model. The key finding is that soils play an important role in determining outputs of crop-climate interactions: they can buffer or aggravate climatic impacts.

Keywords

5.1 Introduction

More than 50% of agricultural land in Africa is degraded and yields of the main staple crops have been at the lower end of the global range for decades (UNCCD 2014; Folberth et al. 2013). To meet the demands of a growing population, agricultural land has expanded into forests. This, coupled with unsustainable agricultural practices has led to increased land degradation (Lisk 2009; GGCA 2012). Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents because of its highly sensitive social and ecological systems and its limited institutional and economic capacity to respond appropriately to these emerging threats (Lisk 2009; GGCA 2012; Perez et al. 2015). Although climate change affects a number of development sectors, the risk to agriculture stands out since the sector represents a significant part of the economies of many African countries (Vermeulen et al. 2012). There is no doubt that climate change will amplify drivers of land degradation and pose increased threats on smallholders’ livelihoods of which the majority are women (GGCA 2012; UNCCD 2014).

Degradation of agricultural land is causing annual yield reductions of 0.5–1% suggesting productivity loss of at least 20% in the next 40 years. In addition, climate change impacts are projected to reduce yields by up to 25% (Ioras et al. 2014; Asseng et al. 2015; Rurinda et al. 2015). Agriculture-based livelihood systems that are already vulnerable to food insecurity will face immediate risk if such yield reductions would occur. Although there has been progress made to understand the impact of climate change and variability on different crops in Africa, there is limited knowledge on how crop-soil systems respond to climate change. Characteristics of different soils vary; for example, clay soils with high organic matter have low thermal conductivity as well as high water holding capacity (Makinen et al. 2017). In contrast, sandy soils, which are predominant in smallholder farming systems, have high thermal conductivity and low water holding capacity (Moyo 2001; Nyamangara et al. 2001). However, the levels of fertility of sandy soils within and across farms greatly depend on the soil-fertility management practices used (Tittonell et al. 2007; Zingore et al. 2011). Soil-climate combination also plays a key role. The magnitude of crop responses to climate is highly sensitive to the soil type (Folberth et al. 2016; Makinen et al. 2017). Farmers in Nkayi, Zimbabwe, have already experienced this; during years of above-average rainfall, farming on clay soils generated a better harvest than on sandy soils, while the reverse is also true.

Empirical and quantitative information regarding the dependency of yield responses to agro-climatic variables on soil type is needed for designing effective climate-smart adaptation methods and enhancing the resilience of smallholder farming systems in the region (Piikki et al. 2015; Folberth et al. 2016; Makinen et al. 2017). Crop models are important tools that can be used to unravel the importance of soil type on crop responses to climate change and variability. However, model choice is also important as different model configurations, operation time steps, physiobiological processes, and others determine the model outputs (Asseng et al. 2015). Here we use the Decision Support System For Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model and the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) model (McCown et al. 1996; Jones et al. 2003; Hoogenboom et al. 2010; Holzworth et al. 2015). The two models simulate the dynamics of phenological development, biomass growth and partitioning, water and nitrogen cycling in an atmosphere-crop-soil system driven by daily weather variables that include rainfall, maximum and minimum temperatures and solar radiation (Hoogenboom et al. 2010; Holzworth et al. 2015). We use the two models to (1) assess the sensitivity of maize and groundnuts to individual climatic factors such as rainfall, temperature and CO2 concentration, under three soil types differentiated by levels of organic carbon and plant available soil water (2) simulate the combined impacts of future climate (2040–2070) on the two crops across the three soil types. Both soil fertility and climate are important issues in smallholder farming systems and will have different impacts on plant production and crop yields under future climate change. Production may increase or decrease depending on plant response to the interactions between climate and soil type, hence the importance to assess these impacts to inform adaptation decision-making.

5.2 Methods

5.2.1 Study Site

Nkayi district is located in the northwestern part of Zimbabwe. Soils in the area are predominantly sandy. Soil organic carbon varies between 0.4% and 0.8% in the top layers while the water holding capacity varies from 52 to 102 mm (Moyo 2001). Maize is the major staple cereal while groundnuts are generally considered women crops that can improve both household income and nutrition. Groundnut is a multi-purpose crop that can be used to improve soil fertility as well as the quality of livestock feed, especially during the dry season. Nkayi has a short growing season and limited water availability. Yields are not necessarily linked with higher nitrogen input due to interactions between nitrogen-induced growth and its effects on water use and water availability at different growth stages, especially during grain filling.

Historical changes in climate in the district show increasing temperature trends and recent projections show increases of approximately 1–2 °C in the near future, 2–3 °C in the mid-century, 2–5 °C by end of century (Masikati et al. 2015). Projections (medium confidence) show that rainfall change direction and amplitude are uncertain, yet averages would remain within or close to baseline variability. Seasonality seems to remain unchanged with possible rainfall reduction at the beginning of the rainy season (Masikati et al. 2015). These projected changes will have different impacts on plant production and crop yields as production may increase or decrease depending on the interactions between crops, climate (CO2, temperature and rainfall) and soil type.

5.2.2 Climate Data

The best available historical weather record was gap-filled with AgMERRA data to create a 30 yearlong daily climate data set for Nkayi district (Ruane et al. 2014). To assess sensitivity of maize and groundnuts to different climatic factors; temperature (minimum and maximum, CO2 and rainfall) we used increments as shown in Table 5.1. To assess the second objective, we use two climate scenarios generated under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP), RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for mid-century (2040–2070) (Ruane and McDermid 2017) (Fig. 5.1a, b) The two selected were the hot/wet and hot/dry scenarios in view of likely increases of temperature while rainfall change direction is uncertain.

(a) Mid-century temperature and precipitation changes in Nkayi, Zimbabwe, from 29 General Circulation Models (GCMs) under RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5 (b) Sub-setting of (GCMs) represented by different letters with different colored dots showing average changes in precipitation and temperature as predicted by GCMs showing projected cool/wet, cool/dry, hot/wet, hot/dry and middle conditions

5.2.3 Crop Model Setup and Sensitivity Tests

DSSAT and APSIM models were used to test the effects of climate change on crop production (McCown et al. 1996; Jones et al. 2003; Hoogenboom et al. 2010; Holzworth et al. 2015). Both DSSAT and APSIM are models that have been developed to simulate biophysical processes in crop farming systems in relation to economic and ecological outcomes of management practices in current or future farming systems (Hoogenboom et al. 2010; Holzworth et al. 2015; Steduto et al. 2009). For Nkayi the models have been calibrated (Masikati et al. 2014, 2015) and can be used with confidence in conducting ex-ante climate impact assessments on crop production systems.

For this study we assess the impacts of single climate factors (CO2, temperature and rainfall) at varying levels (Table 5.1) and also the combined effects on maize and groundnut. Model simulations were done on three soil types which differed in soil physical and chemical characteristics (Table 5.2): poor, average and better soils representing about 29%, 59% and 12% of farms in the district, respectively. Current farmer management practices were used and these are defined in Table 5.3. Outputs from the models, which were considered for the current analyses, include grain and stover crop yields. Planting was set to be done automatically after the model detected that the set soil moisture conditions were met. For this study the sowing window was set between 1 November and 31 December, and planting was done when at least 15 mm of rain was received in three consecutive days.

Table 5.2

Soil initial conditions used for evaluation of APSIM and DSSAT crop models. Soil samples were collected from experimental sites in December 2008 from the Nkayi district

5.3 Results

5.3.1 Maize Response to CO2, Temperature, Rainfall and Fertilizer

Maize sensitivity to CO2 was evaluated at different concentrations with 60 kg N/ha and without nitrogen fertilizer. Without fertilizer, only the APSIM model simulates slight yield increases in response to increasing CO2 concentrations on better soils. However, when fertilizer is added both models simulate increases of maize yields with increasing CO2 across all soil types. Maize sensitivity to CO2 levels differed between the two models and across soil types (Fig. 5.2). Both maize grain and stover show incremental yields up to the maximum level evaluated here, 720 parts per million (ppm), which is more than double the current CO2 levels.

Sensitivity of maize grain and stover to temperature, CO2, rainfall change and fertilizer application rates on different soil types, in Nkayi Zimbabwe. APSIM_1, APSIM_2 and APSIM_3 show simulations by the APSIM model for the three soil types: 1 = poor; 2 = average; 3 = better. The same applies for the DSSAT model

In response to temperature the two models show divergent results on both maize grain and stover on poor soil. The APSIM model showed a slight increase for grain yields and a decrease for stover yields, however, the DSSAT model showed the opposite. Temperature increase of up to 2 °C would see a slight decrease of grain yields on poor soils, while the same temperature increase would substantially reduce grain yields on average and better soils with higher impact on the latter. Both models show almost no effects of temperature increases on maize stover across soil types.

In response to rainfall, a 25% reduction in rainfall, show yield reductions across all soil types, however impacts are higher on average and better soils. For example at 25% rainfall reduction yield losses on poor soils simulated by the APSIM model are 68 kg/ha, while on the average and better soils are 138 and 487 kg/ha, respectively. Simulated average grain yields for current rainfall are 434, 759 and 2110 kg/ha for poor, average and better soils, respectively. Conversely rainfall that was higher than the defined baseline was not beneficial to maize grown on poor soils. On better soils, maize yield increases were simulated only up to about 25% rainfall increases but after that there is a yield plateau.

On all soil types maize yields show positive response to increases in fertilizer application rates. Maize yields reach a plateau at about 60–70 kg N/ha for all soil types, however, from 30 kg N/ha, the rate of yield increases on better soils is low compared to the other two soil types. Although increases are simulated across soils with increasing rates of fertilizer higher yield gains were simulated for poor than the other two soils at application rate of 30 kg N/ha. Grain yields gains with application of 30 kg N/ha from base yields simulated by the APSIM model were 1314, 1190 and 466 kg/ha for poor, average and better soils, respectively. The average base yields were 434, 759 and 2110 kg/ha. Above 60 kg N/ha, there is a yield plateau, meaning that the water environment at Nkayi becomes the limiting factor to achieving higher average yield.

Groundnuts show high response to CO2 concentrations on all soil types (Fig. 5.3). The two models show similar trends although yields from the APSIM model are higher than those simulated by the DSSAT model. Both grain and stover yields increase up to the highest CO2 level evaluated here. The APSIM model simulated higher increases on the better soils while the DSSAT model simulated similarly large increases on the average soil.

Sensitivity of groundnut grain and stover to temperature, CO2 and rainfall change on different soil types, in Nkayi Zimbabwe. APSIM_1, APSIM_2 and APSIM_3 show simulations by the APSIM model for the three soil types: 1 = poor; 2 = average; 3 = better. The same applies for the DSSAT model

In response to temperature changes, both models show negative effects of increased temperature and positive effects of decreased temperatures. Higher yield reductions were simulated for better soils than for the other two soils types. Both models show high yield reductions with temperature increases of about 2 °C, however at higher temperature increases, for example at +6 °C, the DSSAT model simulates slight stover yield increases across all soil types.

Reduction in rainfall by about 50% shows substantial reductions in both grain and stover yields. Both stover and grain yields continue to increase as rainfall increases, however, the increases are very small.

5.3.3 Combined Effects of Climate Factors on Maize

We evaluated the combined effects of climate elements on maize grain and stover yield. Hot/wet and hot/dry climate scenarios for both RCP4.5 and 8.5 were used. The effects were simulated by both the APSIM and DSSAT model on three soil types. The two models show divergent effects of combined climate elements on both maize grain and stover. The APSIM model shows more stover yield reductions while the DSSAT model shows more grain reductions across soils and climate scenarios. Yield reductions are more pronounced on better soils than on the other two soil types, while the hot/wet climate scenario shows more positive effects than the hot/dry scenario. Climate effects are more distinct for grain than for stover and this is more pronounced for RCP8.5 than RCP4.5. Generally, the hot/dry conditions show substantial reductions with probability of 35, 40 and 70% of getting reduced grain yields as simulated by the APSIM model while the DSSAT model shows 85, 75 and 85% on poor, average and better soils respectively under RCP4.5 hot/dry conditions. Generally, maize production will decrease under future climate scenarios though the degree of impact differs among soil types.

5.3.4 Combined Effects of Climate Factors on Groundnuts

In contrast to maize, groundnuts mostly showed positive effects with yield increases of more than 50% for stover in some instances. The APSIM model generally simulated positive grain yields under RCP4.5 and reductions at a probability of 19, 30 and 50% for poor, average and better soils, respectively under RCP8.5 hot/dry conditions. Stover yields showed positive yield increases for both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 under hot/wet conditions. However, reductions were simulated for hot/dry conditions mainly for RCP8.5. The DSSAT model shows more negative effects on grain yields than stover yields across soil types and climate scenarios. Grain yield reductions are more pronounced for average and better soils under hot/dry climate scenarios for both RCP4.5 and 8.5. Stover yields on average soil are mostly affected showing about 40% probability of getting negative yields. Although groundnuts seem to be benefitting on average, however there are years when yield changes are negative.

5.4 Discussion

Temperature increases in areas such as Zimbabwe where crops are grown near thresholds can be detrimental to rain-fed crop production. Increased temperatures can negatively affect crop yields by accelerating crop phonological stages hence less time for biomass accumulation (Asseng et al. 2015). In this study, increased temperatures show negative effects on both maize and groundnut yields across soil types with higher yield reductions simulated on the better soils. Although simulated yield reductions were higher on better soils, average grain and stover yields were always higher than those for poor soils.

Responses to CO2 can vary by crop species (Asseng et al. 2015). In our study, maize showed minimal increases of about 5% for both the APSIM and DSSAT model with fertilizer, however, groundnuts showed average increases of about 23%. Asseng et al. (2015) reported that C4 (e.g., maize, sorghum, millet) and C3 (e.g., wheat, groundnuts, potatoes) plants when CO2 is increased to 500–550 (ppm), grain yield can be increased by 10–20% and by <13% for C3 and C4, respectively. Responses to CO2 also depend on soil water and nutrient availability with highest responses being reported under soil water limiting conditions (Kang et al. 2002). However low soil fertility can reduce the possible positive effects of elevated CO2 on yields (Yang et al. 2006). This was also simulated in the current study where there were minimal to no benefits at all with increases in CO2 across all soil types when no fertilizer was added. However positive responses were simulated with application of 60 kg N/ha with higher increases simulated on better soils. Both stover and grain yields increased as CO2 concentrations increased up to the 720 ppm level. Increases of CO2 in the atmosphere is one of the most certain aspects of climate over the coming decades and leguminous crops such as groundnuts have the potential to benefit from this. Leguminous crops fix the atmospheric nitrogen, release high-quality organic matter in the soil and allow sequestration of carbon in soil. If used as feed (provided the quality is not affected), leguminous crops could reduce methane emissions from livestock. These multiple benefits provide both mitigation and adaptation benefits to farmers.

Rainfall variability can have both positive and negative impacts on agriculture depending on the environment. Reduced rainfall by about 25% can be detrimental to crop yields while increases by similar magnitude would not be as beneficial in low input systems and more importantly on poor soils. Rainfall distribution also plays an important role, as lack of rainfall at crop critical growth stages such as anthesis can substantially reduce grain yield.

Smallholder farming systems are low input systems with an average nitrogen application rate of 3 kg/ha and zero fertilizer application for legumes such as groundnuts. General fertilizer recommendations for different soil types are up to 110, 110–140 and 140–180 kg N/ha for better, average and poor soils, respectively, which is beyond what most farmers can afford (FAO 2006; Vanlauwe and Giller 2006). However, in our current study both models simulate yield plateau at 60 kg N/ha for better soils and at around 70 kg N/ha for poor soils. The biophysical and socio-economic situation needs to be considered for establishing recommendations and these should be location-specific and dynamic because soil changes depending on how it is managed.

5.4.2 Combined Effects of Climate Factors on Maize and Groundnuts

Temperatures are projected to increase in Nkayi district, however, rainfall is likely to change by −15% to +10%. Average annual rainfall for Nkayi is about 650 mm per year and the projected reductions and increases can lead to 552 and 715 mm per year, respectively. Variability will be high especially under hot/dry conditions as shown by the variations in yields reductions (Figs. 5.4 and 5.5). Yield variability is higher for maize grain than stover while for groundnuts high variability is only simulated by the DSSAT model for both grain and stover. Increased temperature effects supersede the other factors and will be mostly detrimental to maize while high response to CO2 exhibited by groundnuts negate the negative effects of increased temperature. Increased temperature reduces crop yields by accelerating crop phonological stages, hence, reducing the time for biomass accumulation. Another adverse effect of high temperature is heat and/or water stress, which at the critical crop growth stages, such as anthesis or grain filling, also reduces crop yields. It will be important to assess which effect will be more prominent and this information could be used when developing adaptation strategies. Important is also to assess the particular times when crops are water stressed so that farmers can adjust water and nutrient management, planting and sowing dates, plant densities and cultivar choice. Climate-smart agricultural practices such as agroforestry that make use of water more efficiently and have the potential to induce microclimatic conditions can be recommended in areas affected by heat stress (Mbow et al. 2014).

5.5 Implications for Development

Crop models are important tools that can be used to understand disaggregated effects of climate elements on crop production. However, models do differ in the way they are constructed and in their responses to different effects of climatic factors on crop production. We used two crop models DSSAT and APSIM and both models generally agreed on the effects of different climatic factors on maize and groundnuts. It is only the magnitude of the effects that vary, for example, reductions on maize grain yields are more pronounced in the APSIM model while the DSSAT model shows more pronounced reduction of maize stover yields. Both models show yield benefits under elevated CO2 concentration for groundnuts negating the effects of increased temperatures when evaluating the combined effects of the climatic factors. However, yield increases for both groundnut grain and stover are more pronounced in the DSSAT model than in the APSIM model. Soils play an important role in determining outputs of crop-climate interactions; they can buffer or aggravate climatic impacts. Better soils exhibited higher responses to positive influences such as increased rainfall and CO2 concentrations compared to poor soils. Better soils would be more important in future farming systems.

Notes

Acknowledgements

In this paper we use the Agricultural Model Intercomperison Project approach (AgMIP, www.agmip.org), using the case study of the crop-livestock Intensification Project (CLIP). UKAID and USDA funded the research. We are grateful to communities in Nkayi district, Matabeleland North and Zimbabwe national stakeholders for their contributions. The research contributes to CGIAR research program CCAFS.

FAO (2006) Fertilizer use by crop in Zimbabwe. Land and plant nutrition management service. Land and water development division. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, RomeGoogle Scholar

Masikati P (2011) Improving the water productivity of integrated crop-livestock systems in the semi-arid tropics of Zimbabwe: ex-ante analysis using simulation modeling. Dissertation, Centre for Development Research (ZEF), University of BonnGoogle Scholar

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